Cleome plant named ‘Inclesbimp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cleome  plant named ‘Inclesbimp’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Cleome hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INCLESBIMP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cleome plant, botanically known as Cleome hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Inclesbimp’.

The new Cleome plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Cleome hybrida ‘Inclesnabl’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/573,174 (Abandoned). The new Cleome plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Inclesnabl’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lingen, Germany in May, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cleome plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany since July, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Cleome plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Cleome have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Inclesbimp’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Inclesbimp’ as a new and distinct Cleome plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. White-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Cleome differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent, ‘Inclesnabl’, in flower bud and flower color as plants of ‘Inclesnabl’ have white-colored flower buds and flowers that are blushed with light pink towards the apices.

Plants of the new Cleome can be compared to plants of Cleome hybrida ‘Inncleosr’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,733. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Heidesheim, Germany, plants of the new Cleome and ‘Inncleosr’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cleome and ‘Inncleosr’ differed in flower         bud color as plants of ‘Inncleosr’ had pinkish purple-colored         flower buds.     -   2. Plants of the new Cleome and ‘Inncleosr’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Inncleosr’ had lavender pink-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Cleome can also be compared to plants of Cleome hybrida ‘Linde Armstrong’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Heidesheim, Germany, plants of the new Cleome and ‘Linde Armstrong’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cleome were larger and more vigorous than         plants of ‘Linde Armstrong’.     -   2. Plants of the new Cleome were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Linde Armstrong’.     -   3. Plants of the new Cleome and ‘Linde Armstrong’ differed in         leaf color as plants of ‘Linde Armstrong’ had reddish         green-colored leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Cleome and ‘Linde Armstrong’ differed in         flower bud and flower color as plants of ‘Linde Armstrong’ had         rose pink-colored flower buds and pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cleome plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Cleome plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inclesbimp’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inclesbimp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 10-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under commercial practices typical of commercial Cleome production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16.6° C. to 29.4° C., night temperatures ranged from 12.8° C. to 18.3° C. and light levels ranged from 3,500 to 4,500 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were eight weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants were grown under long day/short night conditions to induce flower initiation and development. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cleome hybrida ‘Inclesbimp’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Cleome     hybrida ‘Inclesnabl’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application     Ser. No. 13/573,174 (Abandoned). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             soil temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to nine days at             soil temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at soil temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at soil temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright plant             habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit, when pinched, about             six primary lateral branches each with secondary lateral             branches developing.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 26 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 21 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent, minute; longitudinally ridged; occasional tiny             spines, close to 1 mm in length, randomly scattered on             developed stems. Color: Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; palmately compound with three to             five leaflets per leaf.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Leaf length.—About 6.4 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 7 cm.         -   Center leaflet length.—About 4.8 cm.         -   Center leaflet width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Lateral leaflets length.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Lateral leaflets width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Lower leaflets length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Lower leaflets width.—About 1 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptical.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Scattered             pubescence; minute.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 147B. Fully expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147B.         -   Leaf petioles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Darker than 152A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers             arranged in short terminal racemes; flowers face upright to             outwardly; freely flowering habit with typically about 48             flowers developing per raceme.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower continuously from spring until frost in southern             California.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about three days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Narrowly elongate. Color: Close to 157A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to             NN155C. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155D. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; color             does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; denser             along the margins. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture:             Pubescent, minute. Color: Close to 148A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             Distal flowers, about 10° to 15° from peduncle axis;             proximal flowers, about 75° to 80° from peduncle axis.             Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture: Pubescent, minute.             Color: Close to 200B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One subtending each             flower; sessile. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1 cm.             Shape: Cordate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             six. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to             146C. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 3 mm.             Anther color: Close to 152B. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.7             cm; long and extended beyond petals; curving upwardly.             Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 187A. Style             length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to 152B. Ovary color:             Close to 146C.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Cleome. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Cleome have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Cleome     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Cleome have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Cleome plant named ‘Inclesbimp’ as illustrated and described. 